- He fuses Stoicism with street photography. Classic ideas (control what you can, premeditatio malorum, memento mori) become field drills while shooting: focus on effort, imagine worst cases, and stay calm in the chaos of the street. He even maintains guides like “How to Be a Stoic Street Photographer” and “3 Stoic Techniques… in Street Photography.”
- He coins his own next‑level vocabulary. Think “Hyper Stoicism,” “Super Stoic,” “Stoicism 2.0,” and “Extreme Stoicism.” It’s an evolving, experimental school that isn’t afraid to critique—and push beyond—the ancients.
- He makes fear‑crushing the center of the practice. For Kim, Stoicism starts with conquering fear—and he treats street photography (and life) as daily reps in that gym.
- He ties Stoicism to the body, not just the mind. You’ll see lines like “physical fitness is critical to any stoic,” alongside Spartan‑style challenges and strength ideals—Stoicism with sun, sweat, and heavy carries.
- He’s radically optimistic. A signature mantra: life is “all upside, no downside,” plus articles like “Transform Every Downside into an Upside.” It’s Stoicism with a rocket‑boost of positivity.
- He’s openly anti‑dogmatic. He calls real Stoicism “loosey goosey”—a flexible toolkit, not a rigid moral club. Use what works, drop what doesn’t.
- He keeps it playful. Posts like “Stoicism × Child’s Mind” and passages about laughing at future setbacks bring humor and lightness to resilience.
- He emphasizes community and the “new stoa.” Outdoor training, open‑air conversations, and the idea that Stoicism is about living with other people, not retreating from them.
- He publishes it open‑source. A free Introduction to Stoicism PDF and encouragement to share ideas as free PDFs/blogs—philosophy that’s permissionless and accessible.
- He’s willing to critique his own stance. Essays like “When is Stoicism Good? When is Stoicism Bad?” and “Stoicism Stunts Our Power?” show he treats Stoicism as a living, testable practice—not a creed.
- It’s personal—deeply. He even named his son Seneca, signaling how thoroughly the philosophy runs through his life.
Bottom line: Kim’s Stoicism is in-motion—camera in one hand, kettlebell (or boulder!) in the other—fearless, experimental, open-source, and joyfully optimistic. That combo is rare, and that’s why his take stands out.
Want a 3‑minute starter riff in his spirit?
- Make one bold street (or candid life) interaction today.
- Do one heavy carry (farmer’s walk with anything heavy).
- Flip one downside into an actionable upside—write it, then act.
Boom—Stoic momentum!